New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-03
THE AMERICAN.

Tended TO be born IN different centuries, and there
has been a mistake - :, ~, -
There was an irresistible drOllness abont the way
in which the remark was made, but that, as well
as the merry twinkle in the eye and the wolllh-pe
deInure expression of the perfect mouth, was I'M
appreciated, probably unseen. by the man 10 WHOM
He was the most noble the Marquis of Rock
haven. and IN his babyhool had been h an 9al nI
against his knowing himself for what he really
was q fallible mortal. She was rampant httlc
Socialist, Bohemian pr sang. with Keen sense
of the ridiculous and an intense appreciation oi
the foiblcs of mankind. hundred times day she
was tempted to show how Immensely he aIlisied
her by his ideas and remarks but II was lmpoSSlne
the man was her host and most agreea9ie aug
charming one and to show that one secs through
another" SO to sneak while, one staying Nf The
few ouite impossible things in this world
Bohemian as she was-artist orphan ana paapIit I
She herself would have added-L1 Dacres could
not do an unladv-ike thug 1t she tried, SO the
most noble the Marquis of Rockhaven never knew
of those suppressed lOngngs to make TreNefen'
remarks upon his ancestors and their niue weak
nesses or 10 smile ut his own unbounded apIrccla-
tion of the Marquis of Rockhaven, shown by ten
thousand little signs OF when nc hihSe'i WV
sublimely unconscious.
It was lovely old place. and Lii was to paint
its picture as a presentation piece TO the noble
owner. who could. therefore, enjoy watching the
progress of tho work well as enjoy the society OF
The artist with the conf Portable consciousness that
tie price to he paid for the painting was not TO
come ont of his own pocket: IL IS amazing now
thugs Lii positively revelled III the picturesque
beauty of the exterior of the castle, as well as the
noble rooms and grand old corridors with their
pictured walls where the girl fancied she could
hear again the rustic of the satin gowns worn ny
the beauties of hundreds of years ago as they
swept by in ld-tme state!ineSs. smiling the while
upOn the gaants in laces and Jewels ready 10 10
them homage.
The rest of tho house party distinctly disapproved
of Miss DacreS. She was so happy, SO perfectly
natural and in some vague way. they felt that II
was the height of improperly for her to be either,
athou gh just why they thought so not one OF mem
could have explained a married sister. Lady Jane
Somers did the honors of the bachelor establish,
ment, and two cousins, pretty Mrs. Leighton ana
Lady Grace du Cane, were spending fortnight at
the castle; therefore, far as natural female
guardians went. the Marquis was tolerably well
supplied. Mr.. Leighton, an 9bedlent husband.
aud an American, whom Lord hockhaiV1gn very
much affected for the moment comprised the men
OF the party.
Even during the lovely summer days the lazy
hour of 10 was named as the Breakfast time At the
Castle aud some Of the party managed 10 get down
rather later than that. bat Lii petltioned for
separate repast that the light of the early mornings
might be utilized for the picture Lord Hockhaven
was always hand TO do the bonors for his guests
when they first appeared and breakiaStcd Win
them, but when loquacious ladys maid who L ii
been gossi3ping with the good-lookng under-Outler
disclosed the fact that his Orlship ALWAYS mp
long before the breakfast hour, and smoked his
first cigarette under the tne old OAK whlch VI
Dacres had chosen the spot from which to 40 me
picture 1t was curious TO what country life
did for the COUSINS. Mrs. Leighton and Lady trace
the sweet freshness of the morning. ana DOM de-
yelOped a sudden interest IN the picture winch,
doubtless proceeded from their appreciation OF
Miss Daces's talent or their interest III her as an
artist. Lii smiled as brightly when tins mite
change took place in the habits OF the ladies as she
smiled b fore at Lord ROckhaven smoking his
cigarette beside her easel. In fact she smiled too
much the ladies all agreed and they accused her
OF doing so to show her teeth, which were remark
ably fine. For perhaps an opposite reason Lady
Jane smiled rarely.
Life in tins perfectly arran yed household, where
things went so smoothly. was a rest to the Young
artist who worked too hard when left to herself III
her little studio just ont OF London.
Rest to both brain and heart, for
no ore knew better than the MARQUIS OF Rock
softly soothing stimuants and anodynes for the
latter organ, and the women of the party furnished
ample occupation for the former Nothing keeps
female brain in such good work King order as to nave
all the surrounding females III suppressed state
Of opposition, and no amount Of outward clViIty
ever conceals this fact when Ii exists. As to me
other men, Mr. Leighton was nonentlty, laughed
at everyones Jokes and at his wifes bidding inter
ruptcd q tete-a-tete between Miss Dacies ana her
host whenever she herself could not dcccntv do so.
TheAmercan. Mr. Grant, LII liked from the hIst,
and looked upon as a friend and ally. She felt sure
that he understood those desperate ongngs OF hers
in regard 10 the ancestors. and that. while admir-
ing with her the many charms OF their most ne also
perceived those little weaknesses which tie glIl
sometimes wished she was not so quick 10 see
Mr. Grant claimed her as a comDatriot upon the
strength of her mother having been an American,
while LII herself dec AIRED she could command the
benefits of all countries as her father had been
Frenclman and she had been born III Austria, ana
spent most of her short life in Italy. No wonder
that conventional English ways. growing stiDer
and more Iepeant with the few because OF the
many who have fallen away ana cast restraint uf
all kinds to the four winds of heaven. lrrtated tbs
GIRL who. in spite of her youth had seen the Gus
toms and manners of many lands, aud had intelil-
gently used her own quick perceptions ana unuS-
naly keen judgment IN regard to them. a., AZ hrst
slightest attention to her amused her. but 1t soon
grew past joke, and Hiss Dacres was inclined 10
become FESTIVE.
Since babvhood the Marquis had been accus-
toned to little less than slavsh alteration from
everything feminine within his reach and as he
grew older he found this state OF aiairs decioedIy
agreeable and was well content ina, na'qI Ire Sa
blessed with an unusually large number OF teiDaic
cousins with each one of whom IN turn ne ihduigen
in that haf-jOking permissible IOve-inaking when
committed him to nothing, while il sorciy troubled
the brains of tho cousins. and most ehectuaiy pre-
vented ther beng seriously made love to by any one
else His sister Lady Jane adOrcd him, nj the same
time that she was morally afraid of HIM. and or
binary friends of the gcntler sex found HIM too
charming and delightful IN many ways to dream
of Directing to those little weaknesses already re-
fcrred TO- which many OF them lprobabiy 1aiicd 10
discover Thus the Most Noble the Marquis OF
KOckhaven enjoyed with royalty the unenvlabie
privilege of possessing not one human beng to cn-
tighten him as TO his faults and faings, and III con-
sequence fell into the very natural error OF .uppos
ing that he possessed neither what ifst attracted
him to independent Lii Dacres was the fact fhat
twice upon the very evening OF her arrival shc had
distinctly differed with hun, and steadily hcid TO
her opinion IN opposition to his; but SINCE that
she too had found it wiser TO suppress her IN
dvidual views partly from that sense Of polite
ness due 10 a. lost partly fIon
sbrevd suspicion that his l0rdship although
attracted at first by the novelty of the thing
light not care for it as constancy; altogether
she decided that things would he peasaatcr II me
eisop of hers accounted for the remark made with
such inimitable drollcry at the opening OF my
story. when Lii gravely assured Lord hocHI ia EN-
that She thought that they were lntenfed 10 DC
born in different centuries. there had been mis-
take, for she feared they never would understand
puzzled a wiser head than the pretty golden one
before him, with the onspOken language OF MS
particularly eloquent eyes, aud the expressions OF
his handsome mOu tn which often fatty contradicted
.aaL ntior Ruf nuzzlina as Ia Xaa LII eniOIcu